DATA TAG DROPPED ON ACFT IN NE QUADRANT OF RADAR SITE.

Narrative

SMT X DEPARTED GREGG COUNTY ARPT DIRECT TO LITTLE ROCK; AR. A BEACON RETURN WAS OBSERVED ON DEP; AND THE TARGET AUTO-ACQUIRED ITS ASSOCIATED ARTSII A TAG. AT 2E OF GGG VORTAC; THE BEACON RETURN WAS LOST; AND THE ASSOCIATED TAG WENT INTO A 'COAST' STATUS. MANUAL HDOF WAS EFFECTED WITH SHV APCH APPROX 12 NE OF GGG VORTAC. SHV APCH ADVISED THEY WERE RECEIVING A STRONG BEACON RETURN ON SMT X AT 7000 FT. AT 30 NE OF GGG VORTAC; SHV APCH AGAIN ADVISED THEY WERE RECEIVING A STRONG BEACON AT 11000 FT. TARGET WAS TRACKED TO EDGE OF SCOPE; AND BEACON RETURN WAS NEVER OBSERVED. A UCR HAS BEEN FILED ON THIS INCIDENT (UCR-A). THIS ACFT WAS OPERATING IN THE SAME QUADRANT AS ANOTHER ACFT WHOSE INTERMITTENT BEACON RETURN DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO AN OPERATIONAL DEV (UCR-B). THE BEACON SYS AND ASSOCIATED ARTSIIA EQUIP AND SOFTWARE IN USE AT GGG ATCT NEEDS TO BE THOROUGHLY EVALUATED FOR PERFORMANCE. VERIFICATION SHOULD ALSO BE MADE THAT SMT X IS OPERATING WITH A TRANSPONDER MEETING REQUIRED SPECS.